Traction-vehicle.



Patented Dec. 2, 1913.

L. s. GUS HMAN. TRACTION VEHICLE. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 1, 1912.

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TRACTION-VEHICLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 2, 1913.

Application filed October 1, 1912. Serial No. 723,430. i

vehicle and the frame of an ambulatory wheel, whereby the up and downmovements of said wheel are prevented from disturbing the horizontalposition of the vehicle body.

Another object is to construct the wheel itself in a more substantialand durable manner than other ambulatory wheels and to provide a moreeconomical way of making the bearings and other parts of the wheel. Thebearings of this wheel are all rotary bearings and are more nearly dustproof than the bearings of ambulatory wheels having sliding parts.

Other objects and advantages may hereinafter appear.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention,Figure 1 is a broken plan viewof a traction vehicle show ing the sameprovided with an ambulatory wheel. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1,a portion of the wheel being sectioned. Fig. 3 is a sectional detail ofone of the feet. Fig. at is a plan view of said foot. Fig. 5 is a brokendetail elevation, the vehicle body be ing sectioned.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the wheel comprises two sets ofspokes 2 each set radiating from a hub 3 fixed to shaft 4'.- The ends ofthe spokes 2 enter the felly 5, this construction being duplicated neareach side of the vehicle, as seen in plan in Fig. 1. The fellies 5 areunited at intervals by means of pivot shafts 6 upon which are pivotedthe elongated traction feet 7 as best shown in Fig. 2. For the purposeof con necting said feet 7 with said pivot shafts each of said feet isprovided at its mid length with an inwardly projecting radial pivot stud8 by which the foot 7 is connected with the pivot shaft 6. As shown inFig. 3, said pivot shaft 6 is provided with an enlarged center 9 throughwhich the pivot stud 8 extends, said stud preferably having a nut orwasher 11 and pin 12 to secure the pivot shaft thereto. Said pivot shaftmay have a reduced portion 13 at each end thereof where it is pivoted tothe spoke 2. 13 are antifriction rollers. In order to limit the pivotalmovement of each foot 7 with relation to the stud 8 stop lugs 1% arecarried by each foot 7 near one end thereof. The centering springs 15are secured to the other end of the pivot shaft 6 and operate betweensaid pivot shaft and the foot 7 to nnrmally hold the foot in such aposition that the pivot shaft extends along the mid length of said foot.This construction is provided to adapt the device for turning cornersmore readily. It makes it unnecessary to provide a separate wheel ateach side of the vehicle. It will be seen that during the rotation ofthis ambulatory wheel there will be an up and down movement of saidwheel as a whole every time the wheel moves from a position in which oneof the feet 7 begins to touch the ground until the wheel reaches aposition in which said foot begins to leave the ground. In order tocompensate for these successive up and down movements of the wheel, sothat said movements will be neutralized at all points so as not todisturb the horizontal position of the vehicle body 16, a compensatingor neutralizing device is provided, which will next be described.

To each end of the shaft 1 is fixed a cam wheel 17 having a plurality ofoutwardly projecting cams Or cogs 18. With each cam wheel 17 cooperatesa roller 19 having its bearing in a bracket 21 carried by the vehiclebody 16. Each projection 18 of the cam wheel 17 is of such contour as tokeep the vehicle body 16 at the same elevation during allcircumferential positions of said cam wheel 17.

22 designates well known radius rods, and 23 the driving chain, which isoperatively connected with the motor 24: by well known mechanism whichneed not be described in detail, as the same forms no part of thisinvention.

In order to keep the lower edge of each descending foot 7 from strikingthe earth too soon, each of said feet is provided with a weight 25 tokeep the lower edge thereof close to the folly of the wheel as the footdescends to the earth.

In operation, whenever this traction wheel reaches the point shown inFig. 2, wherein it rests squarely upon one of the traction feet, theroller 19 will occupy a position ever, remains stationary as to itsactual height and will continue to remain so while the roller moves overthe point of the projection 18 and along the other side thereof.

This invention is believed to improve over other ambulatory wheels byusing a single neutralizing device between the ambulatory wheel and thebody of the vehicle instead of a multiplicity of such devices, one foreach of the soil engaging feet.

I claim:

1. In combination, a rotary frame, a series of feet carried by saidframe, a. vehicle body supported by said rotary frame, and acompensating or neutralizing device acting between said rotary frame asa whole and said vehicle body to maintain said vehicle body at the sameelevation during the rotation of said rotary frame, said compensatingdevice consisting of two cooperating cam elements, one of said elementsbeing carried by said rotary frame and the other being carried by thevehicle body.

2. In combination, a rotary frame, a series of feet pivoted to saidframe, a vehicle body supported by said frame, a multiple faced cammounted axially of said rotary frame and in fixed relation thereto torotate therewith, and a roller carried by said vehicle body, said rollercooperating with said cam to form a device for neutralizing the verticalmovements of said rotary frame to maintain said vehicle body at the sameelevation.

3. In combination, a rotary frame, a series of feet carried by saidframe, a vehicle body supported by said frame, a cam mounted axially ofsaid frame and in fixed relation thereto to rotate therewith, said camhaving a series of radial projections, one for each spacebetween saidfeet, and a roller carried by said vehicle body, said roller travelingover said projections of said cam to form a device for neutralizing thevertical movements of said rotary frame to maintain said vehicle body atthesame elevation.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angelesand State of California, this 23rd day of September, 1912.

LESLIE S. CUSHMAN.

Witnesses ALBERT H. MERRILL, l/VILLIAM GroRBAoH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

